Cell Phones More Important Than Wallets, Survey Says
If you had to leave your house for 24 hours and could take only one thing, what would it be?
More likely than not, these days it would be your cell phone, according to a new survey conducted by IDC that was sponsored by communications equipment maker Nortel.
Of 2,367 people polled, 38 percent said they would take their cell phone over their wallet, keys, laptop or digital music player. In fact, less than 30 percent chose their wallets first.
Nortel's goal with the survey was to find out how many of us out there are "hyperconnected," which means we use at least seven different devices in our work and personal lives -- and also use nine or more applications to send instant messages, text messages or conduct conference calls. (If you're one of these people, maybe you need a little break from all the tech? We suggest some time outdoors.)
The most hyperconnected country is China. The least are Canada and the United Arab Emirates. Around the world, 16 percent of those surveyed are hyperconnected and that group is expected to grow to 40 percent within the next five years.
But what about the rest of us, those not so hard core with the tech? We're no slouches either, apparently, with the survey indicating that 36 percent of respondents are "increasingly connected," which means we use at least four devices and six applications in our daily lives.
What's driving this need to connect? Social networking is becoming a major force in business. Who is behind the curve? The healthcare industry has only nine percent identified as hyperconnected. Its no surprise that the high tech industry has the most, with 25 percent.
We're busy people, no? We agree with Nortel's assessment, that we're a "culture of connectivity." You can see the details of the study here. [Source: Reuters].
Filed under: Cell Phones
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
JohnQ @ May 14th 2008 4:31PM
They are morons
Reader @ May 14th 2008 6:22PM
I'd choose the cell phone. I don't mind missing calls or anything like that, but there's nothing better for emergency situations. Unless I'm out of my state there isn't really a situation where having my wallet would benefit me more than a cell phone. I'm not going to die of hunger or thirst or need a place to stay, and if I did, I could just call a friend.
halhobbs @ May 14th 2008 4:59PM
Some would rather take their cell phones on a plane than to take their kids, too. All the more reason these morons shouldn't be allowed to use their phones while on a plane.
Bob @ May 14th 2008 5:12PM
Ditto That JohnQ . Total Fools that need Text to survive . What ever happened to Hi Sorry I missed you call you later ......
Name @ May 14th 2008 5:26PM
this is stupid WHAT DOES IT MATTER IF PPL LIKE HAVING THEIR CELLS ON THEM.
wtf.
get a life
kpilker @ May 14th 2008 5:34PM
If I had to choose i would go with my wallett. At least then during that 24 hr time I could pay for food and lodgeing.
MICHAEL @ May 14th 2008 5:59PM
MAN .....HOW STAR TREK CAN YOU GET???? OR RATHER HOW BORG CAN YOU GET???? SOUNDS LIKE THERE ARE A LOT OF FOOLS OUT THERE THAT ARE PART OF THE COLLECTIVE. WHAT A BUNCH OF SLAVES. USE ALL THE EXCUSES YOU WANT TO... I THINK PEOPLE ARE STUPID LOOKING RUNNING AROUND TALKING TO THEMSELVES WHEN THEY ARE TALKING TO PEOPLE WITH A BLUE TOOTH OR CONECTIVE DEVICE OF SOME TYPE STUCK IN THEIR EAR IN PUBLIC...IT'S REDICULOUS AND NOT PLACING THE IMPORTANCE OF A WALLET OVER A PIECE OF TECHNOLOGY THAT STATUS SYMBOL VANITY TAKES THE CAKE. I WONDER IF WHEN SOMEONE GETS ARRESTED THAT WHEN ASKED FOR ID THEY ARE GOING TO HAND A COP A PHONE...THERE ARE OTHER EXAMPLES OF HOW FOOLISH THIS WHOLE CELL PHONE THING IS BUT IN THE END IT'S ABOUT GIVING IN TO VANITY AND THE SUPOSED STATUS QUO. I WILL TAKE MY LITTLE TRACE PHONE WHICH I KEEP IN MY TRUCK FOR EMERGENCIES ANYDAY AS WELL AS MY WALLET OVER SOME FLASH IN THE PAN CHEAPLY MADE , EASY TO BREAK CELL PHONE. WHO KNOWS? THIS MAY BE A NEW TERRITORY FOR SOME RESOURCEFUL BRANCH OF THE GOVERNMENT TO CONTROL PEOPLE. SEND THE SIGNAL THROUGH THE WAVE BANDS SUBLIMINALY AND "HERD" PEOPLE TO A COMMON PURPOSE....BUY MORE CELLPHONES AND THEN LATER WHEN EVERYONE HAS ONE INSTEAD OF A HOME PHONE THEN THE TAKEOVER WILL BEGIN......SOUNDS FUNNY OR OUTLANDISH???........KIND OF MAKES YOU GO HHHHMMMMMMM?????
Br @ May 14th 2008 6:05PM
Take your wallet so you can rent a car, get a room, and buy a new cell phone. DUH.
Vivi @ May 14th 2008 6:44PM
I'll take my wallet, thank you. I have my ID, money, etc. You keep your cell phones attached to your ear. Some day you may go deaf in that ear.
barbra @ May 14th 2008 7:07PM
I would take my wallet. If I couldn't have that, then my ATM card would be the thing I'd have with me. Don't need an ID to use it, it is money at the ready, and you can even use them at some pay phones....pay phones...wow that's a blast from the past!!!
Rita @ May 14th 2008 7:47PM
I don't even own one. Every time somone swerves into my lane, runs a light, or better yet forgets to go the entire length of the light -- they're using a cell phone (thoughtless, endangering bastards).
I have been in restaurants and had people (in their best trailer park / reality show mannerisms) have loud (I really didn't want to know) fights over who ate the last can of barbequed vinnia sausages for crying out loud! I have been to movie theaters and heard them go off. Or people are texting and the glow of the phone, just inside your periphial vision ruins the experience for you.
These are no captains of industry, doctors or CEOs taking calls that can effect many lives. Its just bad mannered trash - and I am sick of it. I want the use of them in any moving vehicle to be a $500 offense. I want any accident where one person was on a cell phone to AUTOMATICALLY be their fault.
I don't hate the cell phones, they are not Satan. Put a prepaid in your glove compartment for that time you go off the embankment into the wilderness so we can have that .005% good reason why a person carries a cell. But don't drive with them. Don't talk on them so loud in the store that I can't hear myself think. Don't ruin my movie-going experience and don't try to kill me when you don't take your turn at the 4-way stop. The cell is not responsible, but people are supposed to be. Since they have overwhelmingly proved they cannot be, then let's have some serious legislation to bring the point home!
Reader @ May 14th 2008 8:25PM
"Since they have overwhelmingly proved they cannot be, then let's have some serious legislation to bring the point home!"
Yeah, fascism for the win!
OMG PEOPLE @ May 14th 2008 8:11PM
r u kidding me? what dumb @$$'s dod u poll?
id use my WALLET to:
buy a rental car with GPS
get food
get a hotel room (hotel rooms come with phones- MAGICAL)
AND GET THESE DUMB @$$'S TO SHUT THE **** UP!
That's what I'd use my wallet for.
Suspicious @ May 14th 2008 8:12PM
It's suspicious that the poll was conducted by a maker of communications equipment. Exactly how was that poll conducted - by calling the respondents on cell phones? And exactly what criteria were used to determine eligibility for the poll - that they have unlimited usage contracts on high-tech devices? Some free advice for everybody: Believe nothing that you hear and only half of what you see.
torchadams @ May 15th 2008 2:59PM
Here what I do to rude people talking in public loudly on their cell phones. I stare at them and pretend to follow their part of the call. When they laugh I smile, when they get angry I look sad or pissed for them. It really freaks the people and they usually go away somewhere else, giving me strange looks! LOL!
Anonymous @ May 17th 2008 2:42PM
Since Canada has a much higher percentage of high speed internet use, and cable television than even the United States, I find it really hard to believe that Canada is the least hyper connected.